Manali to Leh or Srinagar to Leh?

dreamer

Hi everyone

I am hoping to travel to Ladakh and also visit friends in Srinagar and need some

I am not keen on long bus journeys but would like to see the scenery rather than fly all the way in each direction. I understand the distance from Manali - Leh and Leh - Srinagar are around the same (450km) Can anyone advise which of these routes would be the most comfortable to travel as far as road surfaces and luxury bus availability? If there is a slightly preferable route I will take that and fly the other part.

Is the scenery as spectacular on both journeys? I am planning to go in June so I think the roads will be passable.

Thanks all

Sarah

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Life is not about the moments that we take breath, rather the moments that take our breath away.

dreamer

Has anyone out there done either of these routes? Would be really grateful for some advice...
Are there Volvo buses or anything of a similar comfort level?

Thanks

SANJAY_DEL

No Volvo buses. The highway is too narrow and winding.

dreamer

oh dear.. doesnt sound like a comfy trip then. Maybe I will go for a jeep..don't think I can face a trip that long on a bumpy state bus

thanks
Sarah

SANJAY_DEL

Shared "Tata Sumo" jeeps are available on this route.

vistet

If comfort in any way factors in , go for the Srinagar option. Road (grasping for old memories now) is built on less challenging ascents , easier to maintain. The effects of the altitude are the least least challenging as well : you´ll spend one night at 1700-ish (Srinagar), one night preferably at 2600 (kargil) , barely touching 4000 before arriving in Leh the second day. The Manali road reaches the same altitude as Leh within hours , and keep on climbing.


The downside to the Srinagar road is sharing the road with even more military traffic. You can also stop and smell the flower s along the way, taking this way I´d be tempted to make a stop in Mulbekh, which is for most something that blurs past on the road to Leh. Normally I´d say something here about the need to keep an ear close to the ground re political situation in Kashmir etc , but with friends in Srinagar you´ll have that covered better than most of us.

Going from Manali ... the road is spectacular, esp around Moray Plains , but I wouldn´t recommend it. It´s a lot more enjoyable doing it in reverse , after adjusting at least to Leh´s altitude.
The two most used routes from Manali are either a cannonball , non-stop jeep run , taking anything up to 24 hours, or breaking off halfway in the tent camps at Sarchu or Pang, both at an altitude a lot higher than Leh - headaches and mild nausea for the lucky
ones.

A better way of doing this is to use the local bus , and make a first stop in Keylong

kullukid

I flew from Delhi to Leh 2yrs ago & then went by sharejeep to Manali (1200rs for front seat)yes it was very bumpy & probably the dodgiest road i've ever travelled on in my life but i wouldn't have missed it for the world or Ladakh for that matter. You should really think long & hard about doing this if you have the opportunity to do it, no matter how rough the journey is, the route is so amazing you forget completely about any discomfort you may have. Why not do the full circle go to Srinagar then Leh then Manali??? Here's some pics of the Leh to Manali road http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/kulluk...=RRxqP8gufM 4 KK

dreamer

This is exactly what I dont want to do! Neither of those options appeal at all...

Thanks so much for that advice. I think I will visit Srinagar first and then take the road route to Leh and fly out. Seems like the better option.

Great picture too

dreamer

Thanks for that advice too KK. And superb pictures. I know what you mean about forgetting discomfort if the views are great, but that looks like some bumpy journey and I suffer with back problems so I am being a little wary. Hope to definately do the road journey at least one way though.. if it isnt too unbearable maybe even both as I would love to see Manali as well

Thanks
Sarah

mridula

I have done Manali-Leh in 2005 and here is an account if you are interested.

http://www.gonomad.com/transports/0511/ladakh.html

In a nut shell, the journey was tough but I loved the route. I did Manali-Leh by shared jeep and Leh-manali by the state bus. One can hire an entire jeep too, if that suites you better. The Manali-Leh highway did not feel comfortable either way in 2005 but the journey was a lot of fun.

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mridula

http://www.gonomad.com/traveltalesfromindia/

dreamer

Thanks for that advice...
however I woke up last night in a cold sweat about the whole jeep/bus/hairpin bend thing

I think the only time I have had anything like a safe and what I would class as normal driver was in Kerala. Every other taxi or transport I have been in has been a cross between the cannonball rally and the dukes of hazzard (showing my age here )

anwyay, my point is how on earth do you have any clue as to which jeep/driver to pick. Ok you can vet the vehicle for four wheels and some sort of tyres but how can you be reasonably sure the guy isn't going to be a total lunatic and drive you over the cliff??

Anyone got any tips on that? Kind of worrying me...

saajan_20

drivers driving from leh manali leh are very good its their lives 2 they cant play with it
plus if they scare tourists what will they earn from
it will b sheerly bad luck to get some1 as u describe
regards
saajan

mridula

Dreamer, I too will with Saajan, I don't think I have met someone completely lunatic and I think they cause more accidents in Delhi than in the hills, so I would say just take the plunge.

dreamer

as long as it not literally!

yes I guess you are right - it would be themsleves they are throwing over the cliff as well will just have to keep the faith

thanks all